Hoklonote: The Shape-Shifting Spirit (Choctaw)
Hoklonote is a malevolent Choctaw spirit who can assume any shape it desires. This bad spirit is believed to be able to read people's thoughts, making it nearly impossible to hide from. Hoklonote takes different forms to deceive and harm humans — appearing as a loved one, an animal, or even an inanimate object. The spirit's ability to change shape and read minds made it one of the most feared beings in Choctaw mythology. Shamans performed protective rituals to ward off Hoklonote, and people were taught to be suspicious of unexpected occurrences or unusual animal behavior. The story teaches tha